Flushing-tank.



. leans, in the parish of Orleans and State ofv .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. f

JOHN W. SNIDER, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

FLusHiNc-TANK..

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 689,759, dated December- 24, 1901.v

.To all whom it may coneeru:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. SNIDER, a` citizen of theUnited States, residing at New Or- Louisiana, have invented certain new 4and useful Improvements in Flushing-Tanks; and

I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

. My invention relates to improvements in flushing-tanks; and it has for its object to provide a device for flushing a closet-fixture,

such device to be simple and cheap in con-k struction and eective in operation.

My inventionconsists in the novel devices lhereinafter described and claimed and will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same parts are indicated by the same letters of reference throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a vertical central section through Vthe flushing-tank. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the outlet-valve, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the invention as applied to a closet-fixture.

A represents'an inclosing box or casing which serves both as a convenient case and to mufhe thesound and in which is mounted the hollow shellAO. This hollow shell A0 has a central verticalV chamber A and a pair of inverted-U-shaped chambers A2 and A5, arranged one on each side of the central chainber and having branches a2, which connect with the lower end ofthe central chamber A through the bends a. The other branches a3 of the U-shaped chambers extend downwardly parallel with the branches d2 and have connected withtheir lower ends the inlet-pipes e and e2. These chambers A2 and A3 are otherwise closed except where they openY into the central chamber A'. The central chamber A', whichv is of preferably cycleaning or for repairs.- l

The shell A? has an openingin its bottom connection A7.

vAppleman inea Angustia, '1900 I sain Nazavl. cromati.)

directly below the central chamber A, which I l registers with an opening A6 in the bottom of the box or casingpA, and the opening in the casing is fitted with a tubular outlet pipe o r The openingAis preferably tapered to form a seat for the main valve C, which Valve is preferably of rubber. This valve, which is arranged to fit closely within the opening A6, is mounted upon a hollow valve-stem B, which is connected at its upper end toa piston H, preferably in the form of a hanged plate or disk, as shown. The said plate or disk is provided with a central opening h, connecting with the passage through the said valve-stem, andis also tted-with a cock h, which is adapted to openj or close a passage through the said' piston H, as shown in Fig. 1.

The valve-stem B, Figs. 1 and 2, is fitted with a valve-casing b' at its lower end containing a relief-valve D. Referring particularly to Fig. 2, which shows the construction of this lower end of the valve-stem 'B vand the arrangement of the valve-casing and valve, h' indicates a hollow tubular valve casing or section somewhat enlarged and screw-threaded onto the' lower end of the valve-stem B. This section bf is provided with interior screw'- threads at its lower end, into which is screwed a male sectionbz. duced and thickenedneck b3, which engages directly with the section b', and the said thickened neck b3 of the section b? has its upper end formed intoa seat fr the valve D, which controlsthelower passage from the valve-stem B. The main valve C is fitted overt-he neck b3 and isv retained in place by the binding effect of two sections b' b2 when tted together, as shown. The lower portion frame, which constitutes a guide for the stem D'of the air-valve D, and yet allows a free passage for the liquids to and from the opening b4 through the neck b3 of the section b2. The bottom end of the valve-stem D is preferably provided with an enlargement or head D0, which serves as a stop to limit the displacement of the air-valve D and also gives suicient weight tothe valve. When tted.

in position, the valve-stem B, the piston H, and the connections at the lower end of the valve-stem keep the relative positions shown This section b2 has a re.

of the section Z2? is in the form of a skeleton.

IOO

in Fig. l-that is to say, the piston H occupies the position in the upper portion of the air-chamber A and the main valve C fits in the opening A6, the section b2, which lies beneath the said stem B, and the valve-stem passing therethrough, extending through the opening A6 into the outlet pipe or connection A7.

The outlet pipe or connection A7, which connects with the fixture to be ushed, is tted with a cross shaft or spindle A8, to which is connected an operating-arm A4. Upon the spindle A8 is rigidly mounted a trigger or arm a, arranged to engage beneath the enlarged end D0 of the valve-stem D when the arm A4 is turned for this purpose, and to thus cause the displacement of the air-Valve D from its seat. The arrangement of the arm A4 should preferably be such that when released it will fall of its own weight and turn the trigger a8 downward out of engagement' with the valve-stem, it being necessary in order to displace the valve to simply raise the handle of the arm A4. The location of the operating-arm A4 should be such as to render it convenient to be grasped.

The piston H should Work freely, but closely, within the air-chamber A', so as to cut oi the iow of air around its periphery from the portion A of the central chamber A' above said piston to the portion below, or vice versa.

F represents the water-inlet pipe, to which is connected pipes e and e2, which enter the lower ends of the branches a3 of the chambers A2 A3, respectively. Through these pipes water is supplied to the liushing device. Water entering the chambers A2 A3 through these pipes will rise in the branches a3, the air rising above it and entering the branches u2 and the central chamber A'. When the water flows over the points a4 and runs down the branches a2, it will begin to rise in these branches and also in the central chamber A', thus driving the air to the top of these chambers and compressing it there. This cornpression of air within the chamber A', caused by the risingpf the water therein, would tend to raise the piston M if no means were provided for the passage of the air thereby. The vent-cock h, which is provided with a plug for regulating the size of the opening therethrough, allows a portion of the air to pass through the piston H to the chamber AX, above the said piston, and thus preventing the pressure of the water entering the airchamber A through the chambers A2 and A3 from causing the elevation of the piston and the consequent displacement of the main valve C from the outlet-opening. The water will continue to rise in the branches a2 and central chamber A until the air in the tops of the chambers is compressed equal to the pressure in the watermain, at which time the water will stop flowing into the chambers, being unable to further compress the air. At this time the vertical branches a2 of the chambers A2 and A3 and the central chamber A' contain about fifty or sixty pounds of water, with the air above it compressed to the pressure of the water-main.

When it is desired to iiush the fixture, the arm A4 is tu rned to bring the trigger a up against the bottom end of the valve-stem D', thus first raising the air-valve D from its seat and allowing the air compressed in the upper portion of the central chamber A to find an outlet. As soon as the pressure in the chamber A is relieved the compressed air in the chambers A2 and A3, forcing the water against the under side of the piston Il, which has a larger area than the valve C, will assist materially in raising the valve-stem B and valve C, and a continued movement of the arm A4 in the same direction will easily open the valve C and allow the fifty or sixty pounds of water in the branches a and central chamber A' to flow through the outlet-pipe A7, driven by its own weight and by the expansion of the compressed air in the upper part of the chambers a2 and a3, and this iiush would take place independently of the pressure from the water-main. Even if the pipes e and e2 were closed the water would flow from the chamber A0 just the same. As soon as the pressure in the chambers a2 and a3 begins to decrease the water from the main will begin toiiow into these chambers through the inlet-pipes e and e2. Upon the arm A4 being released the air-valve D will fall to its seat and will close the opening through the hollow valve-stem B to the upper side of the piston H, and the said piston and valve C will then be left free to fall. These parts will fall slowly by reason of the fact that the pressure beneath the pistonhead H will tend to hold the same in its elevated position, and they will only fall as fast as the pressure above and below the piston becomes substantially equalized by the passage of air through the Vent-cock h, as hereinbefore described. Fresh air will ow in past the valve C, bubbling through the outflowing water, as soon as the pressure inside falls below atmospheric pressure, and thus the system will be kept supplied with air to compensate for that let out from the part AX of the chamber A. As soon as the valve C closes the water entering through the inletpipes e and e2wi1l refill the system, as before described, thus charging the device for the next ush.

It will be noted that the piston H may be elevated quickly, as above described, by reason of the fact that the air conined in the chamber AX above the said piston may escape by way of the opening ho through the hollow valve-stem B and downward into the escape-pipe A7. In this manner it will be seen that the water will continue to iow out through the escape-pipe A7 during the time it takes the valve-stem B and its connections to fall. The speed of these parts in falling may be regulated by adjusting the IIO Gear/59 g turning-plug in the vent-cock h so as to insure a proper iushing of the fixture. It will furthermore be seen that by the arrangement of the water-chambers A2 and As above described a sufficient head of water is kept on hand to flush the bowl and at the same time produce enough pressure against the piston to prevent too immediate closing of the outlet.

valve.

By using a central chamber A and the inverted-U-shaped chambers A2 and A3 a very small, neat, and compact fixture is obtained in which sufficient water maybe stored up under pressure for a powerful flush and in connection with which a very small inlet-pipe may be used. Another advantage of this lixture is the ease by which the valve may be removed for cleaning by simply removing the screw-cap A5, which is directly above' the valve.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a iiushing device, the combination with adownWardly-inclined pipe or chamber, and means for supplying water under pressure to same, ot a cylindrical air-chamber opening into said downwardly-inclined cham- 2. In a flushing-tank, the combination with an air-chamber; of inclined water-chambers connecting near their base with said air-chamber, the said air-chamber having an outletopening in its bottom; of a piston mounted in the upper part of said air-chamber, said piston having a restricted air-passage therethrough, a hollow valve-stem connected to the said piston, and opening therethrough, a

closed valve-chamber at the lower end of said valve-stem, an air-valve mounted in the said valve-chamber, the main valve carried by the said valve-stem, means operated by hand for displacing the said air-valve, and a watersupply connection with the said water-cham` bers, substantially as described.

3. In a flushing-tank, the combination with an air-cylinder having a discharge-opening in its bottom,inverted U -shaped water-chambers -connectedtwith the bottom of said aircylinder and a water-supply connection with the said chambers, of a main valve for closing the said dischargeopening,a hollow valvestem connected to the said valve and provided with a chamber therein, an air-valve in the said chamber, and a piston mounted upon the said hollow valve-stem, said piston having a vent-opening communicating with the passage through said hollow valve-stem, a ventcock arranged to control the passage of air from one side of the said piston tothe other, and external means for operating said airvalve, substantially as described.

4. In a flushing-tank, the combination with an air-chamber having an outlet in its bottom, of a hollow valve-stem in said chamber, a piston having a restricted air-passage therethrough, mounted on one end of said valvestem and working in the upper part of said air-chamber, a main valve mounted near the other end of said valve-stem and controlling the opening through the said outlet, an airvalve carried by the lower end of said Valvestem and acting to control the passage of air through said valve-stem, means for operating said air-valve, a water-chamber in the form of a stand-pipe opening near its lower end into the lower end of said air-chamber, a secv 0nd stand-pipe, and a water-supply pipe con; nected thereto, the iirst of said stand-pipes receiving the overtlow-water from the second,- substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN w. sNIDnR,

Witnesses:

M. J KANE, H. ECKELMANN.v 

